Asst. Prof. Ed Cheng specializes in low emission and alternative fuel engines

SAN FRANCISCO, May 8, 2006 -- San Francisco State University mechanical engineering Assistant Professor Ed Cheng was one of 10 educators worldwide selected to receive the 2006 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award. Named after a past president of the society, the honor recognizes outstanding engineering educators.

"As a faculty member my primary responsibility is to provide students with the best education possible," Cheng said. "It is truly rewarding to be recognized in this way."

Cheng is a specialist in thermodynamics, combustion and internal combustion engines. His research focuses on more efficient and less polluting vehicles using alternative fuels and advanced combustion strategies. Much of his research is conducted in collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories, where he is investigating the increased nitrogen oxide emissions from biodiesel fuels. As faculty adviser for the SF State chapter of SAE he supervises the SF State student Mini-Baja team, which builds and races a rugged off-road vehicle each year in a national competition.

A resident of San Francisco, Cheng holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from University of California, Los Angeles, master's degrees in mechanical engineering and technology and policy from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from University of California, Berkeley.

"Ed is a valuable resource for our school," said Ahmad Ganji, chair of mechanical engineering at SF State. "Our students greatly benefit from his hands-on experience and intimate knowledge in his field."

SF State is the only master's-level public university serving the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin. The University enrolls about 29,000 students each year and graduates about 7,000 annually. With nationally acclaimed programs in a range of fields -- from creative writing, cinema and biology to history, broadcast and electronic communication arts, theatre arts and ethnic studies -- the University's more than 150,000 graduates have contributed to the economic, cultural and civic fabric of San Francisco and beyond.